US Military contributions to the global response to pandemic chikungunya.

Chikungunya virus, transmitted by mosquitoes to man, causes an acute illness characterized by fever, rash and striking joint symptoms. US Military investigators developed, manufactured at The Salk Institute-Government Services Division (TSI-GSD), and tested the live, attenuated Chikungunya Vaccine TSI-GSD-218. The manufacturing facility stopped production in 1994. The Chikungunya Vaccine TSI-GSD-218 development effort was terminated in 1998, and materials were archived. In 2005, an alarming outbreak of chikungunya disease began in Africa and spread to islands in the Indian Ocean and throughout much of Asia. Abrupt epidemics with high attack rates and serious, even fatal, complications were reported, and travelers carried the virus to Europe and the Americas. In response to urgent requests, the US Military offered assistance by providing non-exclusive access to the previously stored vaccine production seed materials, bulk vaccine, regulatory documentation, and reports of previous clinical trials. Five companies requested technology transfers.